Monday, October 08, 2012

Nickelodeon India Picks Up The Broadcast Rights To Toon Distribution's Brand New Animated Series "Tony And Alberto"

MIPJUNIOR: French animation vendor Toon Distribution has picked up an Asian animated series to launch here in Cannes and sold some of its own back the other way.

Chi's Sweet Home (52x12′) is a series that Japan's Madhouse Studios made in 2008 for TV Tokyo and TV Osaka, based on the popular manga comics of the same name published by Kodansha.

“We were attracted to it because it’s not violent, like other manga properties, and appeals to not just children but adult cat-lovers too,” said Victoire Lemaistre, sales manager at Toon Distribution. “It doesn’t actually feel that Japanese. We’ve got interest from three major French channels.”

Like the comics it's based on, the show follows the day-to-day life of a cute feline and is written by Konami Kanata. Toon Distribution has rights within Europe (ex-UK) and Latin America, while Kodansha handles Asia.

On the sales front, Lemaistre said her company's latest toons had got some new broadcasters attached. Tony & Alberto (78x7′) is now backed by Nickelodeon India, Canal J in France and RTS in Switzerland. The show is currently on M6 here in France.

Speaking from MipJunior, Lemaistre added that one of the big trends this time around is that the number of buyers from VoD services is much higher than at previous markets.

“VoD is really starting to pay serious money, and not just revenue-share deals like three or four years ago, but upfront licence fees,” she said. “The dynamic is really changing.”

However, she warned vendors not to sell VoD rights ahead of TV rights. “VoD licence fees are growing but are still small compared to TV, so you wouldn’t want to jeopardise a TV deal by selling the VoD rights to someone else beforehand.”

Paris-based Toon Distribution is the sales arm of production house Toon Factory, which produces several animated series based on comics published by long-standing partner Glenat Kids.

New shows in development include Kid Paddle Reloaded, Tiny Tyrant, The Smash ‘Em Up Gang, Marie Lune and Lucy June I Dunno. The latter will be the company’s first toon to include transmedia elements.